Barrette or hair-retainer.



J. W. NICHOLS BARRETTE OR HAIR RETAINER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1908.

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

JOHN W. NICHOLS, OF LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

BARRETTE OR HAIR-RETAINER.

Specification of Letters Patent.-

Patented Oct. 27, 1908.

Application filed May 7, 1908. Serial No. 431,425.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN W. NICHOLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leominster, in the county of \Norcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Barrettes or Hair-Retainers, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention pertains to barrettes or hair-retainers, the construction and advantages of which will be hereinafter set forth, reference being had to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Figure 1. is a perspective view of the re-' tainer, the pin being shown as unlatched and moved slightly to one side; Fig. 2 a bottom or under face view, with the pin latched; Fig. 3 a side elevation with the parts in the same relative position; Fig. 4 an end view as seen looking at the end which carries the latch; Fig. 5 a sectional view of a portion of the bar or body and the pin, illustrating the pivotal connection of the pin; and Fig. 6 is an under face view of a modification of the structure.

The main object of the invention is to produce a simple and stable barrette or retainer, which may be readily positioned and easily secured in place.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel means of securing the pin to the body of the retainer, the construction being such that the pin swings laterally to either side of the body, so that it may be readily introduced through the hair and thereafter brought into locking engagement with the body of the device or, more strictly speaking, with the engaging or retaining lugs or ears carried by the body.

A still further object of the invention is to so swivel the pin that one end thereof, bears against the body of the barrette and serves to throw the long free end downwardly toward the body portion, whereby the pin will be the more firmly held by the pin-retaining means and accidental displacement prevented.

In the drawings, A denotes the body of the barrette, herein shown as oblong in outline and slightly curved from end to end. This form, it will be understood, is not essential, though preferably emplo ed.

The pin is designator by B and will be formed of spring or resilient material, preferably celluloid. The free end will be tapered or sharpened and the opposite end will be curved downwardly, as at C, toward the body upon which it bears. A headed pin or pivot-stud D, secured in the body, passes somewhat freely through the pin B adjacent to the curved end Any suitable retainer may be employed to hold the free end of the pin after it is positioned. In the drawings I have illustrated a retainer comprising two lugs or ears E, secured to the body and provided with oppositely disposed vertical faces between which the pin lies and is held. Each lug is formed with an outwardly and downwardly inclined face F, and the upper end of each lug is preferably rounded, as best shown in Fig. 4, to facilitate the entrance and withdrawal of the pin into and out of locking engagement with the lugs.

It is readily conceivable that the outline of the body may be varied as desired, and that the pin need not follow the line of the back of the pin. For instance, as illustrated in Fig. 3, the pin is shown in dotted lines as slightly bowed or curved outwardly. Such voustruction will admit of more hair being held between the body and the pin, the spring action of the downwardly-curved end still obtaining and tending to throw or rock the opposite end of the pin toward the body, the same as with the relatively straight pin. This action of the short curved end (I insures the pin being held iirmly between the lugs or ears E.

As just noted, the outline of the body may be varied. In Fig. 6 the body is shown as provided with a series of downwardly-projecting teeth G, so that with this construction the retainer has in effect the sha e'ol' a comb, the upper portion being somewl namental in outline.

By reason of the resiliency of the )in and the slight give of the end 0 when the rec end of the pin is elevated, the pin may with facility be disengaged from the retainer. With this retainer it is usual to ass the pin through the hair in a substantially horizontal direction, with the body of the barrette hanging or extending downwardly. By then swinging the body u iwardiy', it will tend to sweep or gather in t 1e short hairs or stray locks, and they will be held in place when the pin comes into engagement with the retainrat orforce the free end of the pin toward the body. a

3. In a hair-retainer, the combination of a body ortion a pin pivoted thereon to swing latera ly; and means tending to throw the free end of the pin toward the body of the retainer.

4. In a hair-retainer, the combination of a body portion; a pivot-stud extending therefrom adjacent to one end; and a pin ivoted upon said stud, the short end of the pm bearing on the body and serving to throw the free end of the pin toward the body.

5. In. a hair-retainer, the combination of a body portion; a pivot-stud extending outwardly therefrom adjacent to one end; and a resilient pin pivoted upon the stud, the short end of the pin being curved downwardly and bearing on the body portion.

6. In a hair-retainer, the combination of a body portion; a laterally swinging spring pin mounted thereon; and a holder for the free end of the pin, comprising a pair of lugs having oppositely disposed faces between which the free end asses.

7. In a hair-retainer, the combination of a body portion; a pin pivotally mounted thereon to swing laterally; and a hol.=.ier for the free end of the in, comprising two ln s having oppositely-disposed, approximate y verticalfaces, each lug likewise having an outwardly and downwardly inclined face over which the pin rides in being moved into locking position.

8. In a hair-retainer, the combination of a body portion; a stud extending outwardly therefrom adjacent to one end; a resilient pin loosely pivoted on the stud to swing laterally, said pin having its short end curved downwardly and bearing on the body portion; and a holder for the free end of the pln, comprising a pair of lugs extending outwardly rom the pin, said lu s having oppositelydisposed, ap roximateIy vertical faces, each lug likewise having an outwardly and downwardly inclined face over which the pin rides in being moved into locking position.

9. In a hair-retainer, the combination of a body portion; a plurality of teeth extending downwardly from the lower edge of the body portion; a laterally-swinging pin mounted on the body portion; a catch for the free end of the pin; and means independent of the catch for throwing the free end of the pin toward the body and thereby holding it in enga ement with the catch.

11 testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN W. NICHOLS.

Witnesses:

PAUL B. ORDWAY, ETHEL II. DIVOLL. 

